Smocking & Embroidery Issue 53

Devotion Dress

Square Yoke with piped collar and cuffs and smocked, embroidered front.

This is a project that has been on the go for a while and I have decided it needs to be on the OPAM list as finished.

I have quite a few Australian Smocking & Embroidery kits from when the magazine was being published - it only went up to number 100 and I really wished for more.

The kits had everything you needed, pre-pleated fabric lengths, co-ordinating fabric for collars and cuffs, interlinings, buttons, embroidery threads, ribbons and needles.

This is my completed embroidered smocked panel.

Blocked out for taking the pattern for the dress.  This piece will be attached to the bottom of the front yoke making a square yoke dress.

I have cut out the collar and cuffs and will be interlining them and then making the very fine piping that goes around them.

It shouldn't take too long to complete the dress as the hard work has been completed.

Jeanette Douglas Pinwheel from My Stitching Treasures...

This is the pinwheel from the Jeanette Douglas My Stitching Treasures pattern.  The front is an embroidered pineapple.  I am not convinced that I like it but it goes with the box and I want to complete the whole pattern.

The back has another pineapple pattern plus my initials.  I did finish it this month but I want the date to match the box so hence the 2017 and not 2018.

I now have the main piece mounted in the jewellery box as you can see from the picture.  I have stripped the box inside and purchased some matching silk dupion fabric to line the lid and base.  The colour is a blue/grey steel and matches the threads used in the whole kit.

Next on the agenda is the needle book.

Shepherd's Bush Sailor's Collar Sampler...

I picked up my newly framed Shepherd's Bush Sailor's Collar Sampler today and I am just in awe.  It looks so good now it's framed.  It is a sampler celebrating the marriage and life of my husband's parents Ejvind & Dorothy.

There are so many connections that can be made from this sampler to our family.

The three buttons at the top represent our three children.

The vast array of stitches used in this design is incredible and I cannot remember them all.  The original sampler design had the alphabet stitched into it but I changed that to my in-laws names and date of marriage.

My father-in-Law was a long time fisherman, who spent most of his earlier life at sea until he retired (I don't think he really retired, he just didn't work as long hours but still managed to get out on the boats from time to time, even if just to cook).

There are quite alot of beads through the design as well and I hope you can see the intricacies within the photographs.

It is going to hang in our hallway but our daughter has already made a claim on it and announced it's hers.

Anchors, crashing waves, boats, sunshine and fish.  I couldn't think of a better design representing a special Mum and Dad who are greatly missed. (1997 and 2007).

Blackwork hare progress day 5 ...

Here is the progress so far...

All of the hare detail is complete except for the eyes and nose.  I am going to do those last as that will bring the hare to life once the embroidery is done.  

This stitch uses an incredible amount of thread.  A 12 inch length of floss only completes two squares and takes about 25 minutes to stitch - yes - I am a bit of a nerd lol

I have started to feel alot better from the horrid cold/flu that I had but have decided to just take it slow so it doesn't come back.  Hubby's recovery is taking slightly longer and he still has some way to go but the GP is being thorough and we are back there on Tuesday for him.

I got the first of my lovely packages from Faeries In My Garden and will be blogging about it in March so that I don't spoil it for anybody who hasn't received their kit yet as they send them all over the world.  I will say though, I am really pleased that I signed up.

Blackwork Hare progress Day 3 and 4...

I took a little break yesterday so didn't get much done but today I have made up for it.

I completed the ground and also the middle background area in green.

I am now working on the background shaded areas and there is just subtle shade differences in the colours which is working alot better than the ground shading.  It takes quite a bit of time working the stitches.  Also they had to be worked out identical to the previous as when it is completed they should all run consecutively.  I must have checked it ten times before stitching and still had to be convinced I have it stitched right.

Gillian Blackwork progress Day 2...

I have stitched quite a bit today.  I am not entirely happy with the shading but I think it is because I am using all DMC for the colours and the materials listed using a variety of Anchor and DMC.  I don't have any Anchor threads as I don't like using them, they twist alot and are not as reliable as the DMC threads.

The colours at the base are blending really nicely but not so much at the hind leg of the hare.

There seems to be quite a bold line even though I worked them in two colours so I might take a few out and replace with a different colour.  Practice makes perfect as they say.

Not sure if I will get much more done on this in the next couple of days.  Hubby and me both have hospital appointments and I would like to think that we feel better tomorrow and may get out for some fresh air.

Gillian Blackwork Progress...

As you can see, I kept myself busy today inbetween coughing and sneezing. 

This is actually alot easier than it looks.  I did wonder if I had bitten off more than I could chew but once you get into the pattern of the stitches and how to shade it comes together quite quickly.

The darker shade is the shadow of the hare.  I am going to blend the two tomorrow using the two needle technique so then I can see exactly what shade should be where.  I will also add a few more outer individual stitches so that the outer area isn't as harsh and appears more blended with the linen.

I haven't decided about the inner flowers on the hare as I would prefer not to be the gold thread on the flowers and maybe just do a few different blackwork techniques in each flower instead of a solid stitched area.  I do like to put my own spin on a design, then even if it is stitched by somebody else it still has a little individuality.

Friday Night Sew In...

It's the Friday Night Sew In...

I am lucky enough to have all the Australian Inspirations Magazine, when I got the latest edition I decided that a must sew was the Gillian Hare pattern.

I used my lightbox to  trace the pattern onto punch paper.

 

All traced and then prick and pounced with grey powder onto the Lugana 25ct linen.

Then stretched onto the slate frame ready to put in the outline stitches.  I had all of the materials to just crack on with this which I was very surprised at.

This is how far I got tonight, just the ears left to outline.

I love the beautiful colours that the designer, Maria Dell Valle Olivera used and I only hope that mine will look as good once complete.

I will post some more pictures over the weekend of my progress.

Happy stitching :)

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee....

My wonderful hubby went food shopping and this is my treat...

a skinny, decaf, caramel latte and a gluten free chocolate brownie from Costa.

I limit myself to one coffee a day because I would have four or five but it isn't that good for you when you have health problems anyway.

I have been in bed for two days with the horrible flu and have now made it downstairs for a movie or two.  Hubby has nearly recovered, of course, it was inevitable really, I caught the bug.  It is really awful, head-spinning, body-aching, coughing, sneezing the whole works.  Hubby is now looking after me but we are trying to avoid each other so we don't pass it back again.

I organised a little stitching stash the other day that can be done quickly and that is what I am stitching tonight, so I will see you all later stitching buddies. :)

Friday Night Sew In...

Wendy has all the information you need to join in Friday Night Sew In this coming Friday...

here.

Hope you can join :)

Lizzie Kate Mystery Sampler Things Unseen...

Here she is, completed, ten days of work...

I have put the buttons on and tweaked slightly with beads in the middle of the snowflakes at the bottom and a flower at the top instead of the second large square button.

I am going to frame this one myself in a revamped frame that had a large wedding photograph.  I will put some more photographs on once it is framed.

Happy Stitching :)

Lizzie Kate Mystery Sampler, end of part two...

I reworked the house and finished the topiary, sheep and bees for part two.

Tomorrow I will start on part 3 which isn't as big as I was expecting.

I took a break today from stitching to sort through all my embroidery kits and charts.  I have a few to do as gifts and also another couple of mystery samplers that I would like completed this year.

I hope you are enjoying the stitching journey through this one.  I wasn't sure if I should do it by days but I think it works and may also make someone else feel like taking it up as it hasn't taken that long to come together and the stitching is a very simple cross stitch, even though the size is quite big.

Dogs are better today, thank goodness.  They have been spoiled a bit and got new collars, harnesses and leads as well as dishes and a trial on different food that may be gentle on the little chihuahuas stomach.

Enjoy what is left of the weekend, it is a very wet one in Cumbria. :)

Lizzie Kate Sampler Day 7 and new beginnings...

The boxed hearts, the plant pot, the house and nearly finished the trees.

Then this afternoon I got a little downtime and stitched the sheep, but noticed a problem and had to unpick the house as I had made the windows too small, never mind, I will crack on and see what I can get done this evening.

Hubby is quite poorly so we are playing the waiting game on results and the GP.  I think it's his lungs as he has had the problem before after having pneumonia twice, it has left them quite weak.  Rachael is a lot better and one of the dogs is ok but our little chihuahua is still throwing up so she is also getting checked out.

We had some great news today, my niece gave birth to a beautiful baby girl this morning, Ezria, 6lbs 12ozs by Caesarean Section

Both mum and baby are doing well and we can't wait to meet her.  It is not going to be for a while as we don't want to pass on any germs so for now we have to just look at all the pictures and be very jealous of all the cuddles the new grandparents are getting.  I will be finishing the quilt this weekend and take it with us when we visit.  We will probably have quite a bundle of goodies because who doesn't like shopping for baby girls 💞💕💖💖

Lizzie Kate Things Unseen Mystery Sampler Day 6...

After a little break doing some patchwork, I got back to my mystery sampler...

I got the pot half done and the house half done as well as the butterfly and the branch.

Our home this week has been more like a hospice... hubby is quite poorly so he's in bed, the dogs caught a bug and were throwing up more times than I can remember and then our daughter came home ill from work.

Hope to get more stitching done tonight and tomorrow whilst everyone is sleeping and it's sooooo quiet ;)

Faeries in my Garden Year of Gifts 2018

Faeries in my Garden is running it's last year of gifts this year.  I have looked every year and decided for various reasons not to take it up.  But when it's the last year, you have to just do it.  I got a surprise yesterday as I have got a BOM from Fobbles for the last twelve months and it has finished - I didn't realise and I like to have one ongoing project as I seem to be able to manage just the one.

I am very much out of practice when it comes to links, I did manage to get this far though, link below:-

http://www.faeriesinmygarden.com.au/Gift-of-the-Month-Club/560/

One of the previous years sewing cases.  I don't normally go for florals but there is something about the way Faeries in my Garden design that just works.

A couple of the past collections.  There isn't anything I don't like.  I really hand embroidery, bullion roses and patchwork and this just has it all.

My favourite colour, yes, I know, it's not a colour it's a tone, but black is just classy.

Beautiful ideas for storage that look simply stunning.

Have a look through their gallery, this is just a little snippet of temptation, lots of ideas and inspiration.

Pinwheel Blocks...

Carrying on with my Friday Night With Friends...

I finished 21 out of 36 Pinwheel Blocks.  I have done these a long time ago and gave up because they were horrendous and I may have even binned them.  I followed the Missouri Quilt Company Youtube video and the points are exactly where they should be.  When I pressed them I opened the middle seam up and it made them perfectly flat.

Sorting all the other cuts in three lots and there is an even amount of mixed colour in each group.

The fifteen pinwheels left to do.  They do take a bit of time but they are worth it when they are finished.  There wasn't a lot to trim off when I squared them up.  Now if I was really organised I would have a jar for those trims and use them as stuffing for pincushions.

Back tomorrow with hopefully the start of a quilt.

Baby Quilts

Friday Night With Friends...

I spent the whole evening cutting out all the fabric for three baby quilts.  I still have 16 fat quarters of fabric left, not bad, three quilts out of 11 fat quarters is pretty good.

The pieces have all been fussy cut so I don't have chopped rabbits - that will never do.

Thirty-six 4.5" Pinwheel pieces to make up 5" Pinwheel squares,  18 vertical pieces, 18 horizontal pieces and 5" squares to make blocks.

I have quite a bit of sashing to cut out but I am going to stitch up the pinwheels next.  I found a really fast way of doing them courtesy of Youtube so going to try that which will give me a break from the cutting.  I had a few good sized pieces left that will make up some nice little extras.  I decided to cost everything out to see how far I can make the fabric go.  I will let you know how I get on.  

Pop over to the Friday Night With Friends link to see what everybody got up to.

Enjoy your weekend all, hope you get to relax :) 

Guess How Much I Love You...

I love this book soooo much, it's between this and Were Going On A Bear Hunt for my children's all-time bedtime favourite.

Our ever-expanding family will be getting a new addition very, very soon and with this in mind I decided to look around for baby gifts. 

I hadn't really thought much about making anything but when I found GHMILY Baby Book, which is just beautiful and full of lots of space for family details, I realised I have the fabric to match.  

I counted what I had and thought, no, that's not enough, like you do, so ordered a couple of extra fat quarters. 

 I also ordered 5 metres of Moda Bella Solids in Ivory from Wool Warehouse and I have worked out exactly what I will be making.  The FNWF this week will be me making a start.

I love the fact that my niece decided not to find out what she is having which means I can have free reign on colour and design rather than limiting to pink and blue.  Although secretly, I think her partner is hoping for a dinosaur!!!!!

I have lots of ideas for what I am going to do and enough fabric to make three sets, one as a gift, one for my own family and one spare, tweaking each set so there is a little individuality.  I can't wait to get started.